Signs of success
Shani Oosthuizen inherited a sticker business which she has managed exceptionally well.
POLOKWANE – In the capable hands of local sticker designer, Shani, several companies have made their voices heard.
Oosthuizen inherited her sticker business from her husband in 2013 and she shares her experiences of being a woman in business and what it takes to make the cut in a competitive job like sign writing.
“It is a job that takes a lot of patience, even though I am not a patient person. I have had people work with me in the past but have since learned that it is best to work on my own,” she said.
She said the most expensive thing regarding the printing is the vinyl and the machines used to make the different types of branding and stickers.
The most difficult part of her job, she adds, is that making a mistake, it costs a lot of money. “When a job is not done right and the client is unhappy, you lose the material used to make the sticker and the money the client would have paid. The job is also very time consuming but you learn a lot as you grow,” she said.
Some of the strangest jobs she had to do was making stickers for a new mother who wanted designer bottles for her baby, and having to change a shopping trolley into a car.
“It is all about being creative and taking the time to get to all the things you need to do. I am a mother which means time not spend with family is time working so at the moment there is no time for hobbies,” she told Review.
Shani said she never had any training in designing, adding that having the right programme helps a lot. One of the projects she would like to do more of is the big light box signs.
Her golden rule in business is not to do favors for family and friends because this is your income and they should not expect it from you.
The sticker and wrapping business, she said, is challenging as there are many fly-by-night companies, which is why it is important to be closely involved with your company and clients to show them you mean business and you care.
